The
simulation, designed to test the psychological and physical reactions of
astronauts during a hypothetical trip to Mars, ended Nov. 4 with the virtual
re-entry to Earth. After emerging from their capsule, the participants appeared
pale and thin, but smiling.

“It’s a
unique project,” said Boris Morukov, the director of the experiment. “The
results are beyond satisfying, although we’ll have to wait several months
before we can publish the official data. But, there’s no real need to hurry,”
he joked, “Since it will be another 20 years before we reach the real Mars.
Nevertheless, after this experience we feel a little closer to the Red Planet.”

The crew
remained isolated from the rest of the world for 17 months, breathing
artificial air, rarely bathing, and eating mostly freeze-dried food. They were
allowed occasional brief communications with scientists and family members,
which were received with a “space” delay of 40 minutes.

The
participants underwent daily tests, but spent most of their time exercising,
reading books and studying foreign languages. Chinese, however, remained a
“mission impossible.” Our colleague Wang Yu tried in every way to teach us
Chinese,” said Alexander Smoleevsky. “It was a complete failure.”

Despite some
ups and downs, there were no serious problems among the roommates. “Being together
with people of different languages and cultures made the cohabitation easier,”
said the youngest member of the group, Diego Urbina. “Days passed pretty much
the same way: We worked eight hours a day. After the first morning tests, we
had breakfast together and then usually started the experiments. In our free
time we read or played videogames.”

Even
after their virtual re-entry to Earth, the participants continue to look with
much curiosity toward the planet they visited, if for now only virtually. “We’ll
have to wait many years before mankind can land on Mars,” concluded Romain
Charles. “But with this experience we took great steps forward. This planet is
now much closer to Earth than it seemed before.”